At Loving the Cotswolds, we chose Faith In The Cotswolds as part of our 101 reasons because it captures something distinctive about this much-loved part of England.
So, whether you are planning a visit or simply enjoying a little Cotswold inspiration, we hope this helps you understand why Faith In The Cotswolds deserves its place in the list.
Church creates hub for Ukrainian refugees
In late April, Chipping Campden Baptist Church partnered with Chipping Campden Homes for Ukraine Refugees to create the hub on a Monday morning in the church’s High Street building.
Church Times Festival of Faith and Literature returns to Bloxham
Novelists, broadcasters, journalists, actors, poets, historians, theologians, artists, priests and a bishop are among the wide range of speakers taking part in this month’s festival.
Ex-Gladiator fighting the good fight in the Cotswolds
Warren Furman, better known as ‘Ace’ in the 1990s show, will be part of a team visiting a number of schools in the Chipping Campden area and taking part in different events including a special Messy Church and a youth party.
"Church is alive and well in the Cotswolds"
A few weeks ago, Loving the Cotswolds put out a plea to readers to tell us whether they thought the Church in the Cotswolds was “alive, dead, or just irrelevant”. We’ve received five written responses from people living in various towns and villages in the Cotswolds, all of which indicated in different ways that there is plenty for the Church to be optimistic about for the future, despite the general decline in church attendance over the past few decades.
Here are the responses in full:
Is the Church alive, dead, or just irrelevant, in the Cotswolds?
Ex-Olympic hurdler to share his story of faith
Tony Jarrett won many medals during his career, including the 4x100m relay silver medal in the 1993 World Championships with fellow athletes Linford Christie, John Regis and Colin Jackson and a gold medal in the 110m hurdles at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Top American cellist set for church concert in Cotswolds
Cellist Guy Fishman is the Principal Cellist of the Handel & Haydn Society of Boston, the oldest US orchestra.
Ex Hell’s Angel is now a Christian minister
A former Hell’s Angel who spent time in maximum security jails is visiting a Cotswold church to tell his remarkable story of how his life was transformed and he ended up becoming a Christian minister.
What Christmas Means to Me – by James Keitley
Being kept busy doing numerous odd jobs in and around people’s homes, it’s often difficult to balance a work/family life. Self-employment is hard and you often have times of feast or famine so you don’t want to turn work down.
New website for Cotswold people who have ‘lost’ their church
Hagah Ministries (www.hagahministries.net) is being spearheaded by John Barton from Broadway, who believes he himself is ‘a walking miracle’ after he recovered from Motor Neurone Disease.
Church awarded grant to help transform community area
Long Hanborough Methodist Church has been approved the award from West Oxfordshire District Council’s Cabinet.
Hardman whose life was transformed to share his story
Ian McDowall is part of the Tough Talk Team, a registered charity dedicated to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in an informal way.
Thought for the Election – So you think faith and politics don’t mix?
By Revd Josie Goodwin
The media have gone into overdrive. No, I’m not talking about the good news of the arrival of a princess – a baby girl for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – I’m talking about the soundbite-popping photo-opping frenzy that brings us into the week we elect (or should I say try to elect?) a new government.How a Cotswold church that nearly died 30 years ago has burst back to life
Chipping Campden Baptist Church (CCBC) has come a long way since the late 1970s when the ‘congregation’ at one service consisted of three elderly members sitting around a stove in the chilly back room praying for new people to come in to the church.
Do you have a faith story to share?
If you have an exciting piece of news about what’s happening in your church community or an inspirational story to share, please email david@lovingthecotswolds.com

